Florida's Latest News

Florida To Begin Paying Extra $300 “Lost Wages” Benefit To Unemployed Floridians

People currently receiving at least $100 in benefits and who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic can be eligible for another $300 a week. Once approved, benefits will be retroactive to Aug. 1.

The Lost Wages Assistance Program was created by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month.

Funds for the program come from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.

Those who receive less than $100 in unemployment benefits do not qualify for the additional assistance.

Biden to Visit Tampa, Kissimmee in 1st Florida Trip Since COVID-19

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will make his first trip to Florida since the pandemic shut down campaigning on Tuesday, and he's chosen the I-4 corridor for that first trip.

Biden will attend a roundtable with veterans in Tampa on Tuesday, and then attend a Hispanic Heritage Month event in Kissimmee later in the day. The locations of neither event have been announced.

Biden has not made a public visit to Florida since visiting Miami last year for the Democratic presidential debates. His last campaign trip was for two private fundraisers, including one in Windermere, in October 2019.

Historically red, this Orlando-area county is Florida's surprising new battleground

Seminole County, just north of Orlando and long a stronghold for Florida Republicans, has emerged as a surprising toss-up this fall in a state that recent polling suggests is up for grabs between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.

No Democratic presidential nominee has won Seminole since Harry Truman in 1948, and the county appeared firmly in Republican hands as recently as 2016, when registered Republicans there outnumbered registered Democrats by more than 13,000 voters.

But that gap has closed -- and quickly.

Florida Supreme Court rejects Francis appointment, orders DeSantis to pick new justice by Monday

Palm Beach Circuit Judge Renatha Francis is constitutionally unqualified to join the Florida Supreme Court, the court ruled Friday, and Gov. Ron DeSantis must pick an eligible justice by noon on Monday.

The unanimous ruling said because the state constitution requires 10-year membership in the Florida Bar to be named to the court, Francis didn’t qualify.

“The Governor has not complied with the constitution’s clear commands,” the high court ruling states.